December 17, 2021
The Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs (Assembly) recently met with Mi’kmaw Native Friendship Centre’s (MNFC) Executive Director, Pam Glode-Desrochers, to discuss the ongoing concerns with the options available for emergency and homeless shelters for our urban Indigenous population in the Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM).
The Assembly fully supports decisions made by the executive and board of the MNFC when it comes to how to best serve our urban Mi’kmaw and Indigenous community members, as they know how to best meet the needs of those utilizing their program and services.
“The need to serve our most vulnerable has always been important to us,” said Chief Annie Bernard-Daisley, Assembly of Nova Scotia Mi’kmaw Chiefs. “We will continue to support the MNFC and will be voicing concerns to the Provincial government on how we can best support our people, in safe and culturally appropriate ways.”
The Assembly has always supported the MNFC in their efforts to address the urban Indigenous housing needs in the HRM. In 2020, the Assembly was pleased to have transferred a property on College Street, obtained through the formal consultation process, to the MNFC’s ownership to be used for urban housing.
“We maintain complete confidence in the Friendship Centre’s ability to build, develop and facilitate programs. Once construction is complete, the Diamond Bailey House, will certainly help to build capacity and hopefully aid in the implementation of programs for our Mi’kmaw community members living in the HRM,” said Chief Bernard-Daisley.